Dutchmen downfall begins with sack

Mark Singelai, Times Union

By Mark Singelais

Published 10:48 pm, Saturday, September 28, 2013

Union College running back Darnel Thomas breaks for a long gain during their men's college football game against visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday Sept. 28, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Union College running back Darnel Thomas breaks for a long gain...

Union College running back Darnel Thomas goes in for a touchdown during their men's college football game against visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday Sept. 28, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Union College running back Darnel Thomas goes in for a touchdown...

Union College running back T.J. Franzese goes in for a touchdown during their men's college football game against visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday Sept. 28, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Union College running back T.J. Franzese goes in for a touchdown...

Union College nose tackle number 57 Jake Lebowitz celebrates after recovering a fumble and running for a touchdown during their men's college football game against visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday Sept. 28, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Union College nose tackle number 57 Jake Lebowitz celebrates after...

Union College receiver Brian Havlick catches a pass for a gain during their men's college football game against visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday Sept. 28, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Union College receiver Brian Havlick catches a pass for a gain...

Union College quarterback Conner Eck runs for a gain during their men's college football game against visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday Sept. 28, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Instead of getting rid of the ball in the third quarter, Eck needlessly took a 16-yard sack on third down with the Dutchmen inside the red zone on Saturday afternoon.

That forced Dutchmen kicker David Pope into a career-long 43-yard field goal attempt, which St. Lawrence promptly blocked and ran back for an 84-yard touchdown to tie the score.

The sequence was a crucial momentum swing in Union's 30-20 loss at Frank Bailey Field in the Liberty League opener before a crowd of 862.

"I should have thrown that away," Eck said. "I was looking for my guys, didn't see them. Should have thrown it away, didn't. That's on me. Throw the ball away and play for that fourth down. I'm the leader of this offense. So I've got to get better. Whole team's got to get better in general."

The Dutchmen are off to an 0-3 start for the third year in a row.

Union lost to St. Lawrence (3-1, 1-0) for only the second time in their past 18 meetings.

Special teams gaffes cost Union two touchdowns. St. Lawrence scored first when tight end Nik Busharis, a former quarterback, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mike Tateosian on a fake field goal attempt in the first quarter.